I have been thinking of making a peacock for a few weeks.
I knew it had to be a white peacock because I am just really not in to blues and greens for birds generally, at least not right now.
As with creating any new piece there were lots of stops and starts and problems to solve all along the way and I think I tried to document some of them this time. I hope that it is interesting to see the process as it unfolded.
First step – research. I looked on Flickr and Google images to find some peacocks in the pose I wanted – walking with tail feathers tucked behind. I will do one with feathers splayed at some later time. This photo seemed to be particularly good for me, although I sketched from several peacock photos to get the eyes and the beak and wings and legs just right.
First I made the sketch and from there drew the pattern pieces onto freezer paper and cut them out. The pattern consisted of a big profile piece, a head gusset, two under gussets, wings and a tail.
Then I went to gather all the bits of Kona cotton in all the shades of cream and white that I have left over from other projects. And I picked the same mottled gold fabric from the last owl so that the finished collection that goes to Young Blood will look unified. This fabric would be the dark parts on the peacock.
I ironed the pattern pieces onto the fabric, cut around them and sewed the bird's body together.
Because I sew such tiny pattern pieces I keep the walking foot on my sewing machine almost all the time. This seems to prevent the pieces from being sucked down into the machine.
Then, using my surgical forceps I turn the bird right side out, starting with the small bits like the leg tops and the head.
I usually set things aside at this point and come back fresh to begin stuffing. Stuffing is a long process and it has to be done carefully. I pinch off bits of wool batt with my surgical forceps and stuff really firmly, starting at top of the head. At about 3/4 done, I stop to insert the leg wire and then finish stuffing around it. No my bird is starting to look recognizable!
Once the bird was firmly stuffed, I shape the legs and feet using needle nosed pliers. Then I stuff some more and sew the opening closed.
I wrapped the peacock's toenails with brown floral tape and then sewed torn strips of fabric to the top of each leg and wrapped the legs firmly. Look, it stands up!
Then I wrapped the legs again with black thread.
Now it was time to work on the wings. This involves lots of tearing of fabric strips and many an hour at the machine sewing folded loops to the wing backing. Then I hand sew the wings to the bird. I added tiny gems to part of the wings later to make the peacock look more regal. I also made some head feathers with sewn fabric circles and thin wire.
Now it's embroidery time. One of the many many things I love about making soft sculpture is that it incorporates so many types of skills. Each step is a problem to solve and each step is different from the one before.
And then I made the tail. More loops. Lots and lots of loops. And some gems.
Finally, a bit of tweaking here and there. I made a new beak that is shorter and a bit less curved, did a bit more embroidery on the eyes, added a few extra loops here and there to even things out. All together, about five days of work, working an hour or two a day.
And there it is. A peacock. I think she's a beauty.
It’s definitely beautiful! Exquisite, really.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing your progress!
This is so helpful and inspiring. Thank you for taking the time to photograph your process. I love it!
Amazing! And I loved seeing all the steps–I’ve wondered for a long time now how you make these!
That peacock is so pretty. I come to your blog on occasion just to look. Your birds are such a delight to see.
Thank you for showing us them.
She is magnificent and has such a regal bearing. Your process is amazing , thankyou for sharing it.
She is beautiful. It was really interesting to hear about your creation process.
Oh, that’s really beautiful! Your soft sculptures are touchingly beautiful, and this photography journey of creation is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your process and your beautiful birds 🙂
Just delicious – she looks amazing against that blue background.
I really enjoyed that description with its combination of artistry and technique. Thank you.
Oh! His face is fabulous! How great to see your process!
I loved reading more about your process. I’ve tried some 3-d soft toys and it’s much harder than you make it look. thanks for sharing.
Your work is just stunning, and I love peacocks more than any other bird. You really do them justice here.
Wow, I am completely in awe. What an amazing project.
wow. she’s beautiful. thank you for showing us the process. *
amazing work. such talent.
Wow! She’s magnificent! You make it seem so easy but I bet none of us could do it like you. Another favourite…
You are a goddess! And the peacock is just magnificent. Loved taking a peek into your process!
the peacock is absolutely lovely!! thank you so much for giving us a little peek into the process. i’ve been DYING to see how it all comes together. really beautiful!
I have read your blog from the beginning and periodically pop in to check you out and your amazing birds…really am inspired by your work and others like you. You have evolved into such an amazing artist and thank you for sharing your creations.
Thankyou so much for this little insight as to how your sculptures come together. What a result! She is indeed a beauty.
Such incredible, meticulous attention to detail! That is really beautiful.
abby, that is amazing, and SO interesting to read the process. thankyou for sharing, so enjoyable! 🙂 xxx
Lovely, and great progress pictures! Really cool.
I love checking out your new birds but this one takes the cake, it’s divine! And I throughly enjoyed reading about the creative process, thank you for sharing 🙂
Loved reading about your process, and of course, the peacock is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous work–it’s fun to see how you magically pull it all together. Just one question-if it’s a peacock, wouldn’t it be a he? 😉
That peacock is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your process with us, it really is fascinating to see all that goes into it.
really great.. thanks for sharing your process. i still feel like i have SO much to learn. your birds blow me away. i’m trying to figure out a better way to make the legs on mine, i find it very frustrating now. i hope to be at your skill level someday!